Quilts are for giving....

is a new blog about the quilts we make and donate. It's so nice to have a place to read about what other donation quilters are doing!! I haven't quite finished the red, white and blue orphan top I showed you in June, but I went ahead and began working on this one(again). When I limited that top to red, white and blue, I also limited what I had to work with. I'm closing in on a finished size now, but not quite. I'm going to share some "section" pictures of this orphan quilt for a reason. It's rather like the soup or casserole you make with all the 'odds and ends' from the frig.

If you had a bunch of orphan quilts started, you would eventually have enough orphan blocks of any color or size to do a whole quilt. Mostly we don't have that luxury...not even me, with many donated blocks to play with. I guess beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and this is NOT a beautiful quilt top...I will be the first to say it....BUT, it is an interesting one! If I had to choose, I would choose interesting over beauty any day *VBS* That row you see to the far right? Yup, just a single row of 4.5" blocks, sewn to run vertically, bringing the final width up to 52". I had thought to stop at 48" but it needed a bit more. That's one way to get "more" and not add borders, since it doesn't need the length.

 I think you probably can see just how many orphan blocks, bits and parts and pieces joined together to make this top. If you've got the patience, they will make a whole NEW thing for you. If you only love beautiful children, this method is NOT for you. I'll be happy to take the orphans you don't want. Recently I got a small bundle from Cathy in Ireland *VBS*, what a nice surprise that was!

Here is the completed flimsy. It measures 52" X 72". It will not be having borders as my roll of batting is 54". The wonderful "HA" was donated by friend Betsy. After borrowing my WI Quilts book, she made an entire H.A. quilt. It was wonderful, bright, and happy. Her youngest daughter loved it. Do you see your donated blocks in there?????

Orphans and scraps and pieces, oh my!!

 Yes, it does look like a mess, doesn't it??? This is a new donation, and it seems to be all(or nearly all) 2" strips. They were packed way beyond tightly in one of those heavy plastic bags that new sheets come in. I'm thrilled to get them, as I have several tops started using 2" strips!

 These orphan blocks are from a couple of different donations. I had set them aside until I had enough of something similar to make another Orphan Train quilt. Today I pulled out all the various red and white parts I had and began. The larger red squares in the picture were cut down to match the pile of navy 3" squares from a different donor.

This is about all the further I had gotten on this particular project earlier. Some of the orphans are mine, and many are donated ones. At this point the width is 48", which isn't bad for a donation type quilt. I'm going to see if I can get to about 60" in length. Not sure if it will get tied, machine quilted or donated as a top. I've decided it's high time for me to get busy with these again, and quit messing around in endless 'playtime'...unfortunately, it's something I do VERY WELL!
I have several other new donations to share with you, soon. But I'm going to try and finish this one up FIRST.

Cold mornings, cold engine....

 makes for very slow start ups! Boy, am I not the slowest of the slow? There is an old saying "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak", fits me to a T. I did, however, get a kick start this past week. It arrived in the form of orphan blocks and spare parts from Em of Em's Scrapbag. She has graciously shared scraps and blocks with me before, and it add so much fun getting new ones to play with. Thank you again Em!
 And it certainly was a week of gifts. I had lunch with friend Betsy, my sewing buddy, last week. She sent me home with a bag of selvedges and some of her orphan blocks. She does alot of MAM(mile a minute) piecing, but doesn't do orphan block quilts. I don't mind, I'm happy to get them.
 Here a small top I made from very small homespun or brushed flannel scraps. They were all in a box of donated orphans. The majority were the size you probably don't save. But the Finn in me wanted to see what she could do with them. I was amazed to get 36 6" blocks with very little left overs.
 
I'm thinking it probably needs a border to "stop" it at the edges. I'm considering black. Any opinions?? I also wondered about a rust, or maybe even a reddish purple.

Last stop before the destination.....

It's been a while since I showed the beginnings of this Orphan quilt. And now I see that Blogger has reversed the pictures...sorry!I've snapped a close up of one of the lower corners(second photo) to better display how many bits, parts and blocks can go into one of these quilts.Once they are selected and put into their position, they seem to get along just fine.
Here's the full top(upper photo) as it is now. I'm deciding if it needs borders or not. More often than not, I'm content with the statement the pieced part makes and don't add borders unless it needs more size.
I'm undecided on this one. I'll get a backing made over the weekend and see if I can get it pinned at least.

The North will blow....

and we shall have snow! And we do! Welcome to Wisconsin in the winter *VBS* When I decorate for Christmas, most of my decorations are snowman related vs. Christmas trees or Santas. I chose to go "that" direction because I can then leave the things up(or out) for much longer. Here is this years door decoration.
 And my Desperation or Inspiration top is offically a quilt! I got busy and completed it last week.
 I pieced some odd bits together as batting, and then a scrappy flannel backing. Even the binding is scrappy!! Every stage of this quilt is an "odd,end and/or "orphan". Together, they make a nice quilt. I have no doubt some child will love it and that makes my feel "happy and bright", just like the season.

Inspiration or Desperation??

****The pictures are in reverse order, must be something new when publishing with blogger****I'm not sure what my motivating force was, but I'm back in the Orphan blocks "bin" again. I think it started because of a limitation on how much I can bend over since eye surgery. I've been sorting projects, gathering needed items and bagging or boxing them for easy "grab and go sew".The square in a square blocks are so old I don't remember what my original intention was. They are, however, two different sizes. Some are 6.5" and some are 7.5". Luckily, both are divisable with 42" which is a favorite width of mine when making kid quilts. I had enough for 2 rows of one size and 4 rows of the other. Perfect. But....I also had a large stack of really questionable HST...ones I consider almost to ugly to use. So I made rows of them and stuck them in between the other rows. Worked out well. But I was still short on length.
I had a bag full of these left over from something or another. I did the math and it worked out fine. So I sewed them together. I made a row for the top of the quilt and one for the bottom.
This is what they look like sewn on. The quilt will return for viewing once I get it tied or quilted.

Let's roll....

things are pretty quiet all across blogland on the Orphan blocks front. Maybe I can stir up some interest with these *VBS*If you haven't browsed at Hamilton Books offerings, you should. I came across this book listed there for sale(brand new) at $11.95. It's a collection of quilts from Minnesota. I did mention it to Carol E. as I thought she might be interested. Go to Hamilton Book and scroll down the left sidebar til you come to "Needlecrafts". Click on that and you will get a list of the needlecraft pages they offer. Click on "quilting"(or whatever you are interested in). Usually there are about 200 book titles to look through. I was looking to see if anything of Gwen Marston was available, as I've gotten her books there before. Their prices are incredible and the shipping is very reasonable. I've done business with them for several years and been full satified every time. No affilication...yada,yada,yada.
This little beauty is growing into a "premmie" quilt over at Sue's house. It's techniccally NOT an orphan block quilt, but it's fine to work with "stuff" even when that means a collection of kiddie prints. It's look wonderful and ever so sweet, Sue!
This old darling was made from a 9 patch block swap. I decided to use up as much of my "scrap" black as I could and there are several 'shades' of black in the lattice! All solid blacks, but many shades. I utility quilted it, way back when, and it now lives with one of my gandsons.

Orphans and leftovers...movin' on...

Another great top for the Wrap Them In Love Project compliments of Carol E. She does such a great job working with donated orphan blogs. Sometimes she has blocks she's won in Quilt Block Lotto.I'm not sure which this top was made from, but it's a neat top! Some youngster will love it for sure!
And this is one of my tops, Finn, doing her scrappy thing.I finished this one up by machine quilting it and getting it bound back in the summer. It had no place in particular it needed to go, so it has been living on the back of my couch and Ebby has been enjoying it.
And then the oddest thing happened last week. My youngest son's partner was talking to me on the phone, and told me that while washing the very elderly Trip Around the World, alot of the stitching had let loose, making big holes. I asked if she wanted me to 'fix' it, and she said "no, it's beyond fixing". So I asked if she just threw it away then...and she said one of her neighbors in the apt. building asked if she could have it to re-work. "What?" I asked, "what would she do with it?" I was told she was going to cut away the damaged part and fix what was left to use as a cover for her 2 yr. old son. Hey, this is 2007 right?? Nobody here in the USA could really be IN NEED of bed covers, could they???? Not seriously. I couldn't get that thought out of my head, so after a few days passed, I asked my son a few subtle questions and found out that YES...indeed, there really are people who 'need'. Both of the parents are working, but having a very hard time making ends meet. I must admit I am still 'boggled' by the notion that a young 20 something gal(in 2007) would take that old, old queen size TATW quilt(tied) and re-make it.
So when J. was here a couple of night ago, I sent along the Strip Twist for little neighbor boy, and a promise to be making a few more that can wander into hands and homes who might need them. It's a whole new idea(for me)to think about the orphan train type quilt needed by someone other than an orphan.

Easy Peasy Take on Strings...

but then, that's not an unfamiliar thing with Finn. This slightly unusal string quilt was given to the newly adopted son of my DD's friend.Nothing ever seems to make me happier than seeing a quilt in the hands of a child *VBS* But how the quilt came "to be" is the story today.
All those gorgeous flannel strings are the 'leftovers' from my friend Betsy making a graduation quilt for her youngest DD. I adore playing in Betsy's scraps...she has very good scraps!!!
Now I've been reading lately about piecing strings onto foundations, both paper and fabric. And I know that is traditional, but since I wasn't interested in laying them on the diagonal, why bother???? So I didn't. Just sewed the strips and strings together, any which way and width. Then I cut them into 6.5" blocks, cut lattice, sewed it all up and tied it with orange yarn.
Next thing I know here's DD#1 telling me that her friend L, has brought home a little boy(15 months old, I think) after a long wait. He was removed from his birth mother because of drug use. The availabity was 'up in the air' for awhile, but the courts in MN eventually terminated her rights to the child. Now he's officially adopted in a forever home. Strangely enough, his infant sister became available for adoption(much the same circumstances) a couple of years later. And DD's friend and DH were able to adopt her also. You might not think that is a happy ending, but as an adoptive parent of 5, I can tell you it's the least worst.

When is an orphan an orphan???

This is my "Not quite Orphans" flannel quilt. On the clothes line for a photo, ready to be utility quilted. And it was. And was given to a grandson for his birthday.While not the same as working with orphan blocks, to take a box of odds and ends, scraps of flannel, but no yardages.....to create quilt blocks that meet the 6.5" size...to have them 'play' together nicely.....that was the challenge I gave myself with this one. I'll probably do it again someday *S*.
The scraps NEVER end once you are a quilter...and for that I am thankful *VBS* What are YOU doing with your scrapbag today???

Head Engineer Finn reporting...

with a little help from Ebony, as always *VBS* It's been a while since I just talked to you...I've been in a fairly productive period of getting some UFO's finished up. And I decided a day or so ago(when I saw Jeanne's Christmas Orphans) that it was HIGH TIME I got back to my Yuletide Orphans. The ones laid out in the picture are the ones I headed into this challenge to use up.
I puttered with them for a short time back in June, but who's thinking Yuletide in June???? So I parked them on a 'siding' and let the train roll on without them. Well...no more! I'm re-visiting them, today in fact.
I've pulled them ALL out again, along with the tubs of christmas fabric scraps, and it's time to 'rock and roll' with this batch!
Of course I had to clear the decks this morning(umm, errr, I mean clear the tracks) *G*.
There was a stack of 5" 9 patches waiting to be joined up with setting squares, and I got nearly ALL of them sewn before I had to leave for lunch. A little more sewing and I will have enough blocks for a donation quilt *VBS*.
Then I can really "hit" the orphans! I haven't heard much from some of our volunteers about their orphan projects...how about joining me????

Slow going....

things seem to be pretty quiet right now. A couple of you are working on orphan block tops, and I am too *VBS* I know it's not something that we do full time, like piece our regular quilts...but it makes for a fun 'play' day...with no little to nothing that can go wrong...just rather mindless sewing...*VBS*Here are the blocks I've been playing with this past week. They came in as a donation from Gypsy Quilter. I sewed 2.5" X 3.5" rectangles together into long 'stacks' of bricks, and then sewed a bagful of HST sqs. around the school house block(well, half of it at least..LOL). Obviously I have more to do, but that was it for one day and then life 'happened' again. I'll be getting back to it soon..*VBS* How about you???

Dry Gulch or Box Canyon????

From my window seat in the engine, the tracks ahead look uncertain. A natural condition of the route perhaps...or maybe just that what our train contains is too meager an offering. I had hoped when I created this blog that it might enjoy the kind of journey of the true Orphan trains. Enough content to be necessary, a job being done, satifying results. I'm not very sure anymore that there is enough interest to warrent keeping this blog going. Some of us, like Tonya, myself, Bonnie and a few others have an endless fascination with the unique style, maverick approach, and 'make do' attitude of our ancestor quilters.
And I don't mind at all, taking time from my quilting and sewing to find, scan, crop and post OLD orphan quilts, occasionally. I love hearing from those of you that know of an orphan top or quilt to share with ALL. Sometimes I come across the orphan you are creating(by accident), and if possible it appears here for all to enjoy and learn from.
I am NOT, however, going to scour alleys and byways, and dark corners of world, nor dig in your closets to find an orphan. If you have them, or are paricipating in the challenge, or have made an orphan block quilt in the past, I occasionally need to get an email(like the one from Lucy yesterday) saying that you'd like to share it. If not, then I'm afraid our Orphan block train is running out of fuel to continue it's journey. It could be that it will just sit here in a dry glutch or box canyon, unable to move forward. It's up to ALL of us,not just me. Lately there have been NO comments about anything. And while the readership holds at about 150 a day, it's hard to tell if ANY interest in Orphan block quilts remains. We are coming into autumn here in the Mid-West Uunited States, and being an October child, it's my favorite season. If there is NO continuing interest, I'll just park the train here in dry country and move on to other things.
The pictures today are of: #1 a string quilt from Pennsylvania, Mennonite, late 19th century- 27" X 39". The other vintage quilt is also from Pennsylvania, Mennonite, late 19th century, 41" X 54". Both are in a book called Small Endearments by Sandi Fox. Published 1985 & 1994. The two pictures of modern quilts are:first-one of my many Mile A Minute quilts. Second-the newest Orphan block quilt. I did some monkeying around with the Bento Box 'idea', combining them in a couple of different ways..liked NONE of it, including the bright flannel. So, it's now officially ready for a border and tying. It will go off to one of the younger grandsons. It was all in a day's sewing!

Looking deeper.....and thinking about things

If you know me,then you know that's a normal 'way' of being in the world for me. I have many words inside my head, it takes time for them all to surface. Not all can be shared, but these can and should be. THIS IS MY QUILT. It is not a kit, a pattern nor remotely a copy of anyone elses work. I don't 'why' it came to be, but I know why I called it "Orphan Train, Heading West". I don't think my quilt is remarkable,nor even especially noteworthy. It is deeply, deeply personal. Much more than just using the leftovers.
"The Orphan Train, Heading West" is my personal creation. The odd, unwanted, extra "stuff" is not so different from thousands of children rounded up in New York City, Washington DC, Chicago and other large cities, and sent west. They were placed on a train that stopped in many of the small towns along the way.
The town folks gathered on railroad platforms or in churches, to see if there was a child that they could/would take "home". This is NOT fiction, nor a story, the Orphan Train traveled back and forth, from the late 1850's, until the 1930's, removing orphaned and unwanted children from city streets. The street kids were a by-product of the huge immigration(to America)from Eurpose. Immigrant parents found this wasn't a land where streets were lined with gold after all. Many children were forced out of the homes and onto the streets as the family size grew.It was sink or swim, take care of yourself or perish. As a human being, I have strong feelings about this, and being an adoptive parent doubles those feelings. Unwanted children.

There are thousands of websites about aspects of The Orphan Trains. Many are on a "state by state" basis. There are actual records of children who rode those trains, and sometimes interviews with them as adults. You know that someone who rode in the 1920's or 1930's could very well be alive yet today. There was just ONE Orphan Train. Many actual engines and cars were used over those 70 years, but the 'concept' belong to Rev. Charles Brace who founded the Children's Aid Society. Other orphanages were involved in placement and in gathering children to be cleaned up, fed and sent west. Children were "gathered in", taken care of in orphanages and "held" until there were enough to fill the train. Several sponsors were needed to ride west and supervise the children along the way. They were also the 'records' keepers from town to town.
I don't want anyone who reads this blog, to TRIVIALIZE,in any way, the very seriousiness of The Orphan Train. Nor the aspect of what was decided for these children by our society. I believe, that like adoption today, it's the "least worst" solution to the circumstances. In the wealth of our nation today, it's easy to become immune to the faces and needs of the less fortunate. Easy to let "someone else" take care of it. I'm endorsing the gathering up and gentle using of the quilt blocks we find just 'littering' our boxes and baskets. The 'moving' them into a more suitable and useful setting, but NOT FOR A MOMENT, do I forget that the Orphan Train of history was a REAL DEAL.
We'd have to make alot of quilts to come close to the 150,000 to 200,000 children that were moved across America in those 70+ years.This last picture if a map of the USA, of course. The lines indicate the routes of and cities included in the gathering, carrying and moving of those children.
I spent much time reading, the past night or two, at Orphan Train web sites. I noticed that Minnesota(my neighbor) took in over 3,000 of these children. Wisconsin took 2,000 plus. Oregon took 19. Poplulation and farming seemed to play a role in how many found home in a particular state.The children ranged from infant to young adult.
Many of the websites EMPHASIZE that these children were only 'half' orphan..that they had parents in many cases who couldn't care for them. I don't thinka definition of actual status is the point. I believe you can be a 'motherless child' while having a living mother, and you can be an orphan in the sense that you are unwanted, or found to be 'wanting' in some way. My quilt blocks are orphans in their unsuitable, not beautiful enough, imperfect ways.....but every one of them has a use.

Making progress...

For me, working with orphan blocks is a slow process. It's not that difficult to fit them together, but having them located where they are happy takes some time. Today I puttered with things of a similar WIDTH.
I had left over sections from my "Railroad Crossing" quilt of last year. One pastel "Cracker" block(not sure if it will stay with the "Prairie Braid" or not). I had two 'wrong' blocks from a challenge(Shoo Fly) and lots more possibilities in the box.
And I had 3(yes 3)blocks that were intended to be a "chicken" quilt...way too putzy for my taste. Together they can make a statement for "chicken-dom". Long live chickens! Sticking a 4.5" left over square inbetween the railroad crossing sections made them go further. But what fun, I discovered later, to see that neat black print with baby chicks and eggs on it, next to a chicken. I may just go back and substitute ALL chick pieces between those sections...LOL I wanted to continue playing, but the laundry was calling and so were the dirty dishes. Maybe more tomorrow.*VBS*

The Reckoning......

To speak of reckoning in 2007 is to use an almost obsolete form of a word indicating action of gathering up, counting or tallying. It means "to measure", to judge, to weigh as in a decision. A big aspect of working with oprphan blocks is the 'reckoning'. Do you have enough? As with many things, you can't do much without "enough". Can't furnish a home or school, can't make much of a meal...you can eat, but a meal requires there be somewhere close to 'enough'. And so it would have been with the orphans of the Children's Aid Societies back in the 1800's. You couldn't send a train westward without a full 'load' of children for placement. There was expense involved in transporting these children. The Aid Societies were dependent on private financial donations. I also take donations....*VBS* As I began to work with the orphans I currently have, I'm lucky to have a lovely box full of "parts, bits and orphans galore" from San at Gypsy Quilter . I will add it to our sidebar. She's got a really great quilt posted called Kitchen Sink #1. I love it! Do stop over and say "hi and welcome to blogland"...*VBS* San was onboard early with her Tote Bag quilt...look for it under her name on the Volunteers list. It will link you to the post I made about her quilt. The leftovers from the Tote Bag Quilt are in my box from San...fun!!
I think each of us approaches working with odd sized blocks differently. There are only so many ways it can be done. I tend to be a 'puzzle maker' type. I sew two 'parts' together, and then add something else. I DON'T lay the blocks out and decide where they go...LOL Probably would be better if I did that!! Jack the Ripper is always close at hand to help me..*VBS*

From the somewhat distant past...

Standing here in mid 2007, something done in the early 1990's seems like a long time ago. In terms of vintage quilts, it's not. But way back before the Orphan Train Heading West became a reality...there was this one. It's obviously(hard to miss that)a orphan block quilt top. A really UGLY one!! And it's mine...Finn's.
And it's NOT that I'm bragging, I'm claiming responsibility for it. But I don't love it...or even like it. I just wanted to use up those blocks and parts. So I sewed and sewed and added fillers til I got to double bed size. And then I passed it on to the missionary ladies, thinking it would be fine for a homeless person, etc. They accepted it, graciously....lucky me...it was gone!
But of course what goes around, comes around. About 6 years later, my friend Jean told me she had a top from her mom(one of the missionary ladies) that she wanted me to look it. She had a feeling maybe I had made it, and if so,did I want it back?? Well you could have knocked me over with a feather. There all folded up and rumpled, stuffed in a brown paper bag was my really UGLY Orphan block quilt top! I had thought maybe they could use it for a backing if nothing else...but apparently not.
Seems I managed to make a quilt top that was TOO UGLY for even the missiionaries!!! So I have it back with me...and it's a good story and a good joke on me...LOL Shall I sandwich it and either tie or machine quilt it?? Can I stand looking at it long enough to do that??????? Any opinions?? *VBS*

Cleaning and purging and finding...oh my....

Today I have some of my "brood" to show you. I'm still in process of organizating my sewing room/studio....and 'deep digging' reveals yet more odds and ends of orphans and leftovers. I've been tossing them in a computer paper box as I find them...trying to get them all in one place(except for the Yuletide ones, those are out on the dining room table). I'm quite amazed at the assortment I have! Everything from 4 Aunt Gracies log cabin blocks 6.5", to a stack of leftover bow ties. 2 extra bear paw blocks and 4 Delectable Mountains. 4 tiny paper pieced houses, and about 9 of the Strip Twist 'parts'....LOL This should be fun! A few dryer sheet pieced string blocks, lots and lots of 9 patches in assorted sizes from 5" up to 12"..*S*..oh my! And parts! Lots and lots of parts...and 1 Cracker block! Oh yes, and assorted sizes of broken dishes. Strange there are NO appliqued blocks...hmmmmm? Wonder how that can be?
Right now I'm thinking this one may end up being a row by row orphan...time will tell...*VBS*

My Oldest Orphan Blocks quilt....

The quilt, which belongs to my youngest DS isn't quite THIS faded. Not sure why I can't get the colors to brighten in Image Expert. If this quilt had a name, I've forgotten it. I made it in the mid 1980's, and it could have been called Desolation Canyon. We had moved to a new

community, new job for DH and the 4 kids off to a new school. I've been a stay at home mom all of my kids growing up years, and this was no exception. It's hard in a small village where everyone knows everyone and you know no one.

Plus I'm a fairly shy person which doesn't help.

I choose to 'lose' myself in my quilt making. Why I felt I needed to make THIS quilt, is anybody's guess. Probably started with that abandoned house block in the middle(red and yellow). Some left over 4 patches and a few HST's. Also not sure why I chose to go with the R,W,B, and yellow. I literally had to beg, borrow and steal fabrics to use. Some are re-cycled clothing from shirts or blouses. It's pretty obvious I did this row-by-row, not in sections. And then I hand quilted it!! With pigs, and scotties, heart, spider webs and fat little ducks. Almost any section you look at has something different. Talk about foolishness...LOL But it all took a long time, and that was a good thing. By the time I was done, I had met some people, joined a small quilt group and was doing better. It lived at my house long after the youngest son had outgrown it, moved away and married. Just recently it made a journey to his house, and is now on the bed of his son..*VBS* Who apparently loves it as much as his dad did. Makes my heart happy..*VBS*

Riding The Orphan Train..Heading West

This is how it all began. I don't claim to be the first to make a quilt from left over blocks. It's in the best tradition of scrapbag quilters to use what they have. What I was is a poor planner

concerning the number of blocks I make for a quilt. Planning took too long! I cut, and sewed and cut more and sewed more. East to get too many blocks! Now I have a pile of leftovers to deal with. I have given them away, turned them into pillows or tote bags, etc. but there always were more in the drawer. That's how this quilt was born. Using up the leftovers.

The purpose of this blog is to share quilts made from orphan(leftover) blocks of many genre, size and shapes and types.

I will post the quilts and tops I have made and hope to have examples from others who share this passion for odds and ends.

And as a means to enhance our Orphan Block Challenge. Ideas come from everywhere. Maybe you need an idea how to get started working with orphan blocks. Maybe you can find that here. I have lots more to say, but this is it for right now...*VBS* Hugs, Finn